They walked inside first, with Wilfred following. He hesitated for a moment as he stepped in but ultimately followed through. Yvonne entered, placed her bag on the side, and plopped down on the sofa. Meanwhile, Nina went to the kitchen to prepare three bowls of noodles.Wilfred stood by the door, his eyes scanning the room. He remained silent with a slight smile on his face. Yvonne noticed him standing there and said, "Why are you standing? Come sit."Wilfred glanced at her before walking over. Yvonne poured him some tea, curiosity evident on her face. She could not help but be intrigued by this handsome man. It seemed Nina had a knack for attracting good-looking men."What do you do for a living? How old are you? How many people in your family?" Yvonne asked, sipping her tea like a family member grilling a potential suitor."Doctor," Wilfred replied simply in a casual tone, as he picked up the cup to drink tea.Yvonne noticed a string of beads on his wrist, which looked uniqu
Nina looked at Wilfred and said, "You don't need to go through all that trouble."Wilfred replied, "I don't really like fruits. The strawberries would just go bad if left uneaten, so it's better if you have them."Yvonne's eyes lingered on Wilfred, feeling something was off. He seemed very attentive to Nina."Let's eat the noodles before they get soggy," Nina suggested.They began eating together. Wilfred stared at his bowl for a while before starting to eat, taking his time. When Nina finished, he still had half a bowl left. As she took her bowl to the kitchen, Yvonne followed, nudging her shoulder. "Do you think he likes you?"Nina nearly choked on her noodles. "That's impossible. Including today, we've only met three times and barely talked."Yvonne pondered for a moment, recalling that she had not seen Wilfred around before. "But it feels like you've known each other for a long time by the way he looks at you. And he brought you strawberries. You love strawberries, right? B
"That's a bit much, he even finished the soup," Yvonne commented.Nina nudged Yvonne with her elbow, not wanting her to say anything inappropriate, and took the bowl from Wilfred."I like drinking soup," Wilfred replied.Then he added, "I have work to get to, so I won't disturb you two any longer."Nina responded, "Alright."Wilfred nodded to them both before walking out of the apartment. Nina saw him to the door and closed it behind him. As the door clicked shut, Wilfred paused. He turned back to look at the door for a moment, and then finally walked away.Downstairs, a car was parked and waiting for him. Just as he was about to get in, a nearby sports car rolled down its window.A striking woman with red hair, styled in loose waves, leaned out. Her eyes were captivating. She supported her chin with one hand, smiled playfully and asked. "Why did you move without telling me?"Seeing her, Wilfred closed his car door and smiled. "You found me quickly."The red-haired woman stepp
"What's so special about these strawberries?" Nina asked.Nina thought to herself, "Otherwise, she wouldn't be so concerned, following her all the way and saying she's envious."The red-haired woman eyed Nina carefully, examining her closely. The more she looked, the more familiar Nina seemed. "If there's anything special about them, it's that he grew them. No one else is allowed to touch them. Absolutely no one."Hearing this, Nina stopped in her tracks. "I have something to do. I'll be going now," the red-haired woman said, speeding away.Nina stared at the strawberries in her hand, deep in thought. Wilfred had told her all the neighbors had them, but did that mean only she had them?Pondering this, Nina hurried back to her company. After Michelle left, both she and Angel had managed to turn things around. Angel was especially happy, no longer confined to typing at a computer all day. She could finally go out.Nina was busy working on a draft when she suddenly received a
"Blind date?"Hearing this, Nash's expression instantly turned cold, his eyes narrowing sharply. They were not even divorced yet, and she was already thinking about meeting someone new. Did she really think a blind date could find her someone better than him?Nash said icily, "Let's see how good this blind date is!" On the surface, he remained calm, but his hands clenched into fists. He was already imagining killing the man trying to steal his wife.Just then, Wilfred stepped out of his house. Nash looked at him, their gazes locking. Wilfred stared back with a meaningful look. Nash did not back down either. They passed each other without a word, but the tension was palpable.Nash's expression remained cold, and he was on high alert. This man was not simple. And he lived right next to Nina.Meanwhile, Nina was handling the situation in the private room. The man stood up and introduced himself, "Hello, Nina. I'm Carl Lincoln. Do you remember me? Our families used to live next door
These were all their promises made to Julia. Julia knew what kind of life Nina had in the York family. Marrying a wealthy man did not guarantee happiness. Despite the wealth, life could still be miserable. In the end, it all depended on the attitude of the husband's family.Julia did not want Nina to repeat her mistakes. The attitude of the in-laws was crucial when choosing a marriage partner. The other family had maintained a good relationship with them for many years, even while living abroad. That showed sincerity. Julia trusted them and believed they valued Nina. Moreover, if Nina moved abroad, she would not run into Nash anymore, cutting off their last hope of reconciliation. They had been inseparable, and despite not being divorced yet, Julia decided to make the choice for them.She had explained the situation to the other family. They did not mind, showing they genuinely liked Nina. Given this leniency, Nina responded, "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, for your kindness, but
Nash dropped to one knee, followed by the men behind him, creating an imposing scene that filled the room with tension. Julia stumbled back a few steps in shock. Even Nina was stunned.Julia had initially been full of righteous anger, but seeing Nash kneel, her fire diminished. "Nash, what are you doing? Get up now!" she said, her tone softening.Nash kept his head bowed. "Mom, please entrust Nina to me."He used force with others, but with Nina's family, he was always respectful. No matter how dissatisfied Julia was or how little faith she had in their marriage, seeing Nash humble himself like this made her reconsider. She found herself conflicted."Julia," Mrs. Lincoln interjected, noticing the unresolved tension, "Hasn't Nina gotten a divorce yet?"Julia felt embarrassed. "They were supposed to divorce. I didn't expect this.""It's alright, we understand. This gentleman seems sincere," Mrs. Lincoln replied kindly. "If there's a chance to save the marriage, we shouldn't interfe
Nash's expression became complicated, and his expression looked grim. Nina did not care how harsh her words were. Once she decided to leave, nothing he said could change her mind. She turned her head and calmly left the restaurant. Nash remained where he was, rooted to the spot.As Nina stepped out of the restaurant, she felt a sudden sense of relief. Leaving Nash was the right choice. Despite his declaration of love, how much of it could she believe? Trusting in a man's love might only lead to deeper hurt later on."Mr. York, aren't you going after her?" Quincy asked, seeing Nash standing there. Quincy was stunned and more anxious than him.Nash replied, "Didn't you see how much she resented my attempt to keep her? If I chase after her now, she’ll only hate me more.""So what should we do? Just let her go?" Quincy questioned.Nash, determined to find a solution, said coldly, "Doesn't Starry Sky TV station want to interview me?""What? What are you talking about?" Quincy hadn
Mrs. Stone was stunned into silence by the officer’s stern words. She stopped her hysterics, but her eyes still held traces of resentment and unease. Meanwhile, in another part of the station, Karina sat on a sofa, her mood as heavy and oppressive as the overcast sky outside. Her mind replayed the countless entanglements with the Stone family—the slander, the extortion, the endless pain. Those memories surged like waves, solidifying her determination to break free entirely. Staying in Birkham would only mean being drained by the insatiable greed of the Stones. Slowly, Karina took out her phone. Her fingers hesitated before they hovered over Wilfred’s contact. Taking a deep breath, she dialed his number. The line connected quickly, and Wilfred’s calm, caring voice came through. “Karina, what’s wrong?” Her lips trembled slightly, her voice tinged with an almost imperceptible quaver. “Dr. Wilfred, I need to tell you something.“I don’t think I can stay in Birkham anymor
“If your son is indeed suffering from a mental illness, we will proceed according to the appropriate legal procedures after professional evaluation. Until then, he must remain under our supervision and be investigated,” the officer explained firmly. Meanwhile, in another room at the station, Kieran, who had been subdued, was gradually calming down. Despite his quieter demeanor, a hint of cunning flickered in his eyes. The officer assigned to watch him kept a vigilant eye on his every move. Noticing the scrutiny, Kieran raised his head and feigned innocence. “Officer, I was having an episode earlier. I didn’t mean to act that way. I couldn’t control myself.” The officer’s response was cold and detached. “There will be time for explanations later. For now, sit tight and behave.” Kieran pursed his lips, remaining silent outwardly but scheming internally. *The police then called Karina to inform her of Mrs. Stone’s claims and to verify their accuracy. Karina let out
The trash can sailed through the air, scattering its foul-smelling contents across the police station, filling the air with a pungent odor. Several young officers flanked Kieran from both sides, trying to grab hold of his arms. But Kieran thrashed wildly, his surprising strength allowing him to break free from one officer’s grip. With a sharp elbow strike, he hit another officer square in the stomach. The officer grunted in pain, stumbling back a few steps but gritted his teeth and held his ground. The scene in the reception hall descended into chaos. Civilians seeking assistance huddled in corners, some shrieking in fear. Mrs. Stone stood to the side, wringing her hands and stomping her feet in desperation. Her voice, pleading and panicked, was drowned out by her son’s shouting. “Kieran, stop this! Calm down!” she cried. But Kieran was too far gone, consumed by his manic performance. He couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hear her. The situation was teetering on the brink of tot
Karina stared at the flood of messages, feeling nothing but disgust and revulsion. Kieran’s texts were growing increasingly obsessive, filled with unhinged threats, unreasonable demands, and even veiled warnings against her safety. No. She couldn’t allow the Stone family’s harassment to continue unchecked. Taking a deep breath, she decisively dialed the police. She provided the authorities with a detailed account of the Stone family’s relentless harassment, including Kieran’s disturbing demands and the threatening content of his messages. The officers assured her that they would investigate promptly and provide her with protection if necessary. With the police now involved, Karina finally felt a sliver of relief. *The response was swift. The blare of sirens pierced through the city’s noise as several police cars raced toward Kieran’s address. Flashing red and blue lights reflected off the surrounding buildings, drawing curious stares from passersby. Guided by
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
Sera’s gaze was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through Karina. Karina hadn’t expected her momentary greed to create such a mess. If she couldn’t stay a doctor, she would have no source of income, and her life would spiral further out of control. “Please, don’t do this. Tell me what you want, and I’ll keep helping you. Maybe… I could spike his drink for you again, or set up another opportunity,” Karina said, grabbing Sera’s hand out of desperation. Sera clearly wasn’t short on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give Karina such a large sum back then.All she wanted now was to secure her position at the hospital.Sera pulled her hand away, a mocking smile on her face. “Set up another opportunity? Do you think Wilfred would fall for it twice? Do you take him for an idiot, Dr. Norman?” Wilfred wasn’t an idiot, and ordinary drugs didn’t seem to affect him much.Karina felt utterly helpless. One wrong step had led to another, and now she had no idea how to
“Starting today, you’ll officially resume your position as my assistant. I trust you’ll adapt quickly,” Wilfred said firmly. Karina’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. “Dr. Wilfred, really? I’ll do my best to fulfill the responsibilities of the assistant role.” Wilfred stood up and walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Familiarize yourself with the current work schedule and the relevant materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have confidence in you.” Karina hesitated, a trace of worry crossing her face. “But… I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Wilfred already had an assistant. If Karina agreed to take the position, wouldn’t that make her a target for trouble from his former assistant? And then there were all the people at the hospital who were infatuated with Wilfred. Lately, she had already been spending more time with him, drawing enough attention as it was. If she officially became his assistant, she’d surely
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she